Carton With Handle

ABSTRACT

A carton for containing at least one article. The carton includes a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels includes a first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel, and at least one bottom panel. The carton includes a plurality of end flaps for at least partially closing an end of the carton. The carton further includes a handle in at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The handle has a handle opening in the at least one panel and a handle strap attached to the carton that extends across the opening. The handle strap can be a different material than the at least one panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/122,857, filed Oct. 31, 2014.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/122,857,which was filed on Oct. 31, 2014, is hereby incorporated by referencefor all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to cartons for holding andcarrying articles such as beverage containers and/or other articles.More specifically, the present disclosure relates to cartons having ahandle comprising a material that is different than the material of thecarton.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carton forcontaining at least one article. The carton includes a plurality ofpanels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton.The plurality of panels includes a first side panel, a top panel, asecond side panel, and at least one bottom panel. The carton includes aplurality of end flaps for at least partially closing an end of thecarton. The carton further includes a handle in at least one panel ofthe plurality of panels. The handle has a handle opening in the at leastone panel and a handle strap attached to the carton that extends acrossthe opening. The handle strap can be a different material than the atleast one panel.

In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank forforming a carton. The blank includes a plurality of panels comprising afirst side panel, a top panel, a second side panel, and at least onebottom panel. The blank includes a plurality of end flaps for at leastpartially closing an end of the carton formed from the blank and handlefeatures in at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The handlefeatures include a handle opening in the at least one panel and a handlestrap attached to the blank that extends across the opening. The handlestrap comprises a different material than the at least one panel.

In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method ofassembling a carton. The method includes obtaining a blank comprising aplurality of panels. The plurality of panels includes a first sidepanel, a top panel, a second side panel, and at least one bottom panel.The blank further includes a plurality of end flaps and a handle in atleast one panel of the plurality of panels. The handle comprises ahandle opening in the at least one panel and a handle strap attached tothe blank that extends across the opening. The handle strap comprises adifferent material than the at least one panel. The method includesforming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by theplurality of panels. The method further includes inserting a pluralityof articles into the interior of the carton and at least partiallyoverlapping the plurality of end flaps to at least partially form aclosed end of the carton.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages andother advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments readingthe following detailed description of the embodiments with reference tothe below-listed drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

According to common practice, the various features of the drawingsdiscussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions ofvarious features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reducedto more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an interior plan view of a blank used to form a carton inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 1according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carton according to a secondembodiment of the disclosure.

Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbersthroughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention generally relates to cartons that contain articlessuch as containers, bottles, cans, etc. The articles can be used forpackaging food and beverage products, for example. The articles can bemade from materials suitable in composition for packaging the particularfood or beverage item, and the materials include, but are not limitedto, glass; aluminum and/or other metals; plastics such as PET, LDPE,LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like, or anycombination thereof.

Cartons according to the present invention can accommodate articles ofany shape. For the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose oflimiting the scope of the invention, the following detailed descriptiondescribes beverage containers as disposed within the carton embodiments.In this specification, the terms “inner,” “interior,” “outer,”“exterior,” “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” and “top” indicate orientationsdetermined in relation to fully erected and upright cartons.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the interior side 1 of a blank, generallyindicated at 3, used to form a carton 5 (FIG. 2) according to theexemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The carton 5 can be used tohouse a plurality of articles such as containers C (FIG. 2). The carton5 has a handle, generally indicated at 11, for grasping and carrying thecarton. In one illustrated embodiment, the carton 5 is sized to housetwelve containers in one layer in a 3×4 arrangement, but it isunderstood that the carton may be sized and shaped to hold containers ofa different or same quantity in a single layer, more than two layers,and/or in different row/column arrangements (e.g., 1×6, 3×6, 2×6, 4×6,2×3×4, 2×6×2, 2×9, 3×5, 3×5×2, etc.). In one embodiment, the containersC are cans, but other types of containers (e.g., bottles) can be used inthe carton 5. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the carton 5comprises a first material (e.g., paperboard or other suitable material)and the handle 11 comprises a second material (e.g., fabric, wovenmaterial, non-woven material, woven metallic fabric that may includeferrous or nonferrous metals, etc., or any other suitable material).

The blank 3 has a longitudinal axis L1 extending generally in thedirection of the length of the blank and a lateral axis L2 extendinggenerally in the direction of the width of the blank. The blank 3includes a top panel 23 foldably connected to a first side panel 25 at alateral fold line 27. The top panel 23 is foldably connected to a secondside panel 29 at a lateral fold line 31. A first bottom panel 33 isfoldably connected to the first side panel 25 at a lateral fold line 35.A second bottom panel 37 is foldably connected to the second side panel29 at a lateral fold line 39. In one embodiment, the first and secondbottom panels 33, 37 can at least partially overlap in the erectedcarton.

The top panel 23 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 49 and asecond top end flap 51. The first side panel 25 is foldably connected toa first side end flap 53 and a second side end flap 55. The second sidepanel 29 is foldably connected to a third side end flap 57 and a fourthside end flap 59. The first bottom panel 33 is foldably connected to afirst bottom end flap 61 and a second bottom end flap 63. The secondbottom panel 37 is foldably connected to a third bottom end flap 65 anda fourth bottom end flap 67. When the carton 5 is erected, the end flaps49, 53, 57, 61, 65 close a first end 68 of the carton, and the end flaps51, 55, 59, 63, 67 close a second end 69 of the carton. In accordancewith an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, differentpanel and flap arrangements can be used for at least partially closingthe ends 68, 69 of the carton 5.

The end flaps 49, 53, 57, 61, 65 of the first end 68 extend along afirst marginal area of the blank 3, and the end flaps 51, 55, 59, 63, 67of the second end 69 extend along a second marginal area of the blank 3.The end flaps 49, 53, 57, 61, 65 are foldably connected to respectivepanels 23, 25, 29, 33, 37 at respective longitudinal fold lines 71, 73,75, 77, 79. The end flaps 51, 55, 59, 63, 67 are foldably connected torespective panels 23, 25, 29, 33, 37 at respective longitudinal foldlines 81, 83, 85, 87, 89. In one embodiment, the top end flaps 49, 51each include a base portion 50, 52 and a distal portion 54, 56 foldablyconnected to the base portion at a respective longitudinal fold line 58,60. Similarly, the bottom end flaps 61, 63, 65, 67 have distal portions70 foldably connected to base portions 72 at longitudinal fold lines 74.The end flaps 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67 can bealternatively shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or omitted withoutdeparting from the disclosure.

In the illustrated embodiment, the features that form the handle 11 caninclude a handle opening 101 in the top panel 23 and a handle strap 103extending across the handle opening. In one embodiment, the handle strap103 is attached to the panel 23 at attachment regions 105, 107 locatedat respective ends of the handle strap. The attachment regions 105, 107include portions of the handle strap 103 that are in face-to-facecontact with the top panel 23 and are attached to the top panel 23 byadhesive such as glue. In the illustrated embodiment the attachmentregions 105, 107 of the handle strap 103 are attached to the top panel23 and do not extend into the end flaps 49, 51, but the handle strap 103could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and configured such as to beingelongated and extending across the fold lines 71, 81 into at least aportion of the top end flaps 49, 51. Further, the handle strap 103 couldbe attached to the top panel by other attachment mechanisms (e.g.,frictional force or mechanical attachment means including rivets,thread, buttons, staples, and any other suitable mechanical fasteningmeans) without departing from the disclosure.

In one embodiment, the blank 3 can comprise a substantially rigidmaterial such as paperboard that provides stiffness and a smoothexterior print surface for the carton 5. Alternatively, the blank cancomprise other materials such as E-flute corrugated fiberboard, othercorrugated materials, or any other suitable material.

In one embodiment, the handle strap 103 can comprise any suitableflexible material such as woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, woven metallicfabric, plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber, polymers such aspolyethylene, polypropylene, or other polymers, rope, flexible bagmaterials, paper, or any other suitable material.

In alternative embodiments, the carton 5 could include multiple handlestraps 103 extending across the handle opening 101. Further, the handlestraps 103 could be any suitable width and length without departing fromthe disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 3, an alternative carton 5′ is configured forcontaining containers in the form of beverage bottles and includes analternative handle 11′ having a handle strap 103′ of an alternativematerial as the carton 5. Accordingly, similar or identical features ofthe embodiments are provided with like reference numbers. As illustratedin FIG. 3, the carton 5′ may include a texture T in one or more panels(e.g., first side panel, second side panel, top panel or any otherpanel).

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the blank 3 can be erectedinto the carton 5 by first attaching the handle strap 103 to the toppanel 23 by applying adhesive to the attachment zones 105, 107 andsecuring the handle strap to the top panel. The carton 5 can be formedby folding the blank 3 along fold lines 27, 31, 35, 39 and overlappingthe outer edge margin of the second bottom panel 37 and the outer edgemargin of the first bottom panel 33. Glue or other adhesive can be usedto secure the first and second bottom panels 33, 37. The first end 68 ofthe carton 5 can be closed by respectively overlapping and adhering theend flaps 49, 53, 57, 61, 65, and the second end 69 of the carton can beclosed by respectively overlapping and adhering the end flaps 51, 55,59, 63, 67. The base portions 50, 52 of the top end flaps 49, 51 and thebase portions 72 of the bottom end flaps 61, 63, 65, 67 form respectiveangled or curved corners of the carton 5. Containers C could be loadedinto the carton 5 before or after closing either of the first end 68 andthe second end 69 of the carton. It should be understood that either thefirst end 68 or the second end 69 can be assembled first, leaving theother end open so that the contents of the carton 5 may be introducedinto the container. The open end can then be closed after the contentsare loaded into the carton 5.

As shown in FIGS. 2, the handle 11 includes the handle strap 103 thatextends across the handle opening 101 in the top panel 23. The carton 5can be carried by grasping the portion of the handle strap 103 in thehandle opening 101 and lifting the carton by the handle strap. Thecarton 5 could have other features for strengthening the handle withoutdeparting from the disclosure. Alternative assembling, loading, andclosing steps may be used without departing from the scope of thisdisclosure.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the carton 5 is oriented so that the toppanel 23 and the bottom panels 33, 37 are adjacent the sides of thecontainers C that are beverage cans and the side panels 25, 29 areadjacent respective ends of the cylindrical beverage containers. Thecarton 5 can be otherwise configured so that the top panel 23 with thehandle 11 is adjacent the top or bottom ends of the containers C. Forexample, the carton 5′ of FIG. 3 includes the top panel 23 beingadjacent the tops of containers C that typically would be beveragebottles. The handle 11 can be located in any of the top panel 23, sidepanels 25, 29, or bottom panels 33, 37 without departing from thepresent disclosure.

Any of the features of the various embodiments of the disclosure can becombined with, replaced by, or otherwise configured with other featuresof other embodiments of the disclosure without departing from the scopeof this disclosure. Further, it is noted that the handle features,dispenser features, and/or other features of the various embodiments canbe incorporated into a carton having any carton style or panelconfiguration. The carton styles and panel configurations describedabove are included by way of example.

The blanks according to the present disclosure can be, for example,formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. For example, theinterior and/or exterior sides of the blanks can be coated with a claycoating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product,advertising, price coding, and other information or images. The blanksmay then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed onthe blank. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisturebarrier layer, on either or both sides of the blank. In accordance withthe above-described embodiments, the blanks may be constructed ofpaperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier and more rigid thanordinary paper. The blanks can also be constructed of other materials,such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having propertiessuitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally asdescribed herein. The blanks can also be laminated or coated with one ormore sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.

In accordance with the above-described embodiments of the presentdisclosure, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although notnecessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scopeof the present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such aslines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates acrushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; acut that extends partially into a material along the desired line ofweakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/orcompletely through the material along the desired line of weakness; andvarious combinations of these features.

As an example, a tear line can include: a slit that extends partiallyinto the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series ofspaced apart slits that extend partially into and/or completely throughthe material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinationsof these features. As a more specific example, one type tear line is inthe form of a series of spaced apart slits that extend completelythrough the material, with adjacent slits being spaced apart slightly sothat a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material)is defined between the adjacent slits for typically temporarilyconnecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are brokenduring tearing along the tear line. The nicks typically are a relativelysmall percentage of the tear line, and alternatively the nicks can beomitted from or torn in a tear line such that the tear line is acontinuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the presentdisclosure for each of the tear lines to be replaced with a continuousslit, or the like. For example, a cut line can be a continuous slit orcould be wider than a slit without departing from the presentdisclosure.

The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panelsadhered together by glue during erection of the carton embodiments. Theterm “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonlyused to secure carton panels in place.

The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describesvarious embodiments. As various changes could be made in the aboveconstruction without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosurecovers various modifications, combinations, alterations, etc., of theabove-described embodiments that are within the scope of the claims.Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selectedembodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable of use invarious other combinations, modifications, and environments and iscapable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventiveconcept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings,and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore,certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may beselectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated andnon-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carton for containing at least one article, thecarton comprising: a plurality of panels that extends at least partiallyaround an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises afirst side panel, a top panel, a second side panel, and at least onebottom panel; a plurality of end flaps for at least partially closing anend of the carton; a handle in at least one panel of the plurality ofpanels, the handle comprises a handle opening in the at least one paneland a handle strap attached to the carton that extends across theopening, the handle strap comprises a different material than the atleast one panel.
 2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the handle opening isin the top panel and the handle strap is attached to the top panel atattachment regions.
 3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the attachmentregions include portions of the handle strap in face-to-face contactwith the top panel and attached to the top panel by adhesive.
 4. Thecarton of claim 2, wherein the at least one bottom panel comprises afirst bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel and asecond bottom panel foldably connected to the second side panel.
 5. Thecarton of claim 1, wherein the carton is made of paperboard.
 6. Thecarton of claim 5, wherein the handle strap is formed from a materialselected from the group consisting of: a woven fabric, a non-wovenfabric, woven metallic fabric, plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber,polyethylene, polypropylene, rope, nonferrous metal, and paper.
 7. Thecarton of claim 1, wherein the handle strap is formed from a wovenfabric.
 8. The carton of claim 1, wherein the handle strap is formedfrom a non-woven fabric.
 9. The carton of claim 1, wherein the handlestrap is formed from rope.
 10. The carton of claim 1, wherein the handlestrap is formed from polyethylene.
 11. The carton of claim 2, whereinthe at least one article comprises a plurality of articles, theplurality of articles are beverage containers having a side, a top, anda bottom, the top panel is adjacent a respective side of at least onebeverage container.
 12. The carton of claim 2, wherein the at least onearticle comprises a plurality of articles, the plurality of articles arebeverage containers having a side, a top, and a bottom, the top panel isadjacent a respective top of at least one beverage container.
 13. Ablank for forming a carton for containing at least one article, theblank comprising: a plurality of panels comprising a first side panel, atop panel, a second side panel, and at least one bottom panel; aplurality of end flaps for at least partially closing an end of thecarton formed from the blank; handle features in at least one panel ofthe plurality of panels, the handle features comprise a handle openingin the at least one panel and a handle strap attached to the blank thatextends across the opening, the handle strap comprises a differentmaterial than the at least one panel.
 14. The blank of claim 13, whereinthe handle opening is in the top panel and the handle strap is attachedto the top panel at attachment regions.
 15. The blank of claim 14,wherein the attachment regions include portions of the handle strap inface-to-face contact with the top panel and attached to the top panel byadhesive.
 16. The blank of claim 14, wherein the at least one bottompanel comprises a first bottom panel foldably connected to the firstside panel and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the secondside panel.
 17. The blank of claim 13, wherein the blank is made ofpaperboard.
 18. The blank of claim 17, wherein the handle strap isformed from a material selected from the group consisting of: a wovenfabric, a non-woven fabric, woven metallic fabric, plastic, rubber,synthetic rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene, rope, nonferrous metal,and paper.
 19. The blank of claim 13, wherein the handle strap is formedfrom a woven fabric.
 20. The blank of claim 13, wherein the handle strapis formed from a non-woven fabric.
 21. The blank of claim 13, whereinthe handle strap is formed from rope.
 22. The blank of claim 13, whereinthe handle strap is formed from polyethylene.
 23. A method for forming acarton, the method comprising: obtaining a blank comprising a pluralityof panels comprising a first side panel, a top panel, a second sidepanel, and at least one bottom panel; the blank comprising a pluralityof end flaps and a handle in at least one panel of the plurality ofpanels, the handle comprises a handle opening in the at least one paneland a handle strap attached to the blank that extends across theopening, the handle strap comprises a different material than the atleast one panel; forming an interior of the carton at least partiallydefined by the plurality of panels; inserting at least one article intothe interior of the carton; and at least partially overlapping theplurality of end flaps to at least partially form a closed end of thecarton.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the handle opening is in thetop panel and the handle strap is attached to the top panel atattachment regions.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the attachmentregions include portions of the handle strap in face-to-face contactwith the top panel and attached to the top panel by adhesive.
 26. Themethod of claim 24, wherein the at least one bottom panel comprises afirst bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel and asecond bottom panel foldably connected to the second side panel.
 27. Themethod of claim 23, wherein the blank is made of paperboard.
 28. Themethod of claim 27, wherein the handle strap is formed from a materialselected from the group consisting of: a woven fabric, a non-wovenfabric, woven metallic fabric, plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber,polyethylene, polypropylene, rope, nonferrous metal, and paper.
 29. Themethod of claim 23, wherein the handle strap is formed from a wovenfabric.
 30. The method of claim 23, wherein the handle strap is formedfrom a non-woven fabric.
 31. The method of claim 23, wherein the handlestrap is formed from rope.
 32. The method of claim 23, wherein thehandle strap is formed from polyethylene.
 33. The method of claim 23,wherein the at least one article comprises a plurality of articles, theplurality of articles are beverage containers having a side, a top, anda bottom, the top panel is adjacent a respective side of at least onebeverage container.
 34. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least onearticle comprises a plurality of articles, the plurality of articles arebeverage containers having a side, a top, and a bottom, the top panel isadjacent a respective top of at least one beverage container.